JetBlue pilot released from hospital, appears in federal court

Eric Pfeiffer

Reporter

The SideshowApril 2, 2012

JetBlue pilot Clayton F. Osbon has been released from a Texas hospital and on Monday appeared in federal court, where he could face 20 years in prison if convicted on charges of interfering with a flight crew.

The Amarillo Globe-News reports that Osbon "stood calmly in shackles" during his hearing. U.S. Magistrate Judge Clinton E. Averitte ordered that Osbon remain in federal custody until his detention hearing, scheduled for this Thursday. The court will determine at the hearing if Osbon is eligible to be released on bond.

Osbon, who was a pilot with JetBlue for 12 years, is charged with disrupting a flight from New York to Las Vegas, during which he reportedly ran up and down the plane aisles, making reference to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according to an FBI affidavit. Co-pilot Jason Dowd safely landed the plane after locking Osbon out of the cockpit.